Considering they got a late start in the process to fill their head coaching vacancy, Kansas made a strong hire in luring away a proven program builder Buffalo's Lance Leipold with national titles to his name from his time at Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Upon news of his hiring, multiple reports shared that Leipold inked a six-year deal and now the details have been made available and KUSports.com provided the relevant details.
Leipold's six-year deal that will pay him an average of $2.75 million annually, and $16.5 million over the life of the contract.
His first season in Lawrence, Leipold will be the lowest paid coach in the Big 12 at $2.2 million, but that will grow to $3.3 million in the final year of the deal.
Leipold made $624,300 annually at Kansas, according to the USA Today Football Coaches Salary Database. The Jayhawks reportedly agreed to pay his buyout of $600k to the Bulls.
As for buyout figures in Lawrence, if Leipold were to leave Kansas for another college or NFL job he would owe $6 million in 2021, $5 million in 2022, $4 million in 2023, $3 million in 2024, $2 million in 2025, and $1 million in 2026.
If Kansas we to fire Leipold without cause, he would be owed 70% of his remaining salary.
The incentives laid out in the contract include bonus payments for a top 25 finish ($50k), Big 12 Coach of the Year ($50k), National Coach of the Year ($100k), seven wins ($50k), as well as some lofty goals like appearing in the national title game ($500k), a college football playoff berth ($350k), New Years Six bowl game ($150k), and $100k for any other bowl berth and $150k for reaching the Big 12 title game.